WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Environmental groups filed a lawsuit against the US state of California to stop the oil industry from dumping millions of gallons of toxic oil waste into dwindling underground water supplies, the Center for Biological Diversity said in a press release.
“Today’s lawsuit asks the court to declare the new regulations illegal and force California officials to halt illegal oil industry injection operations in the state,” the release, issued on Thursday, said.
Wastewater includes high levels of cancer-causing benzene and fracking fluids, often associated with cancer and birth defects, the release stated.
The oil and gas industry has traditionally disposed of the polluted water by injecting it deep underground in disused oil and gas wells, or injection wells.
